According to a report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), three separate military airstrikes killed at least 70 innocent Nigerians in 2024. Military response to insecurity in the country had resulted in yet another case of innocent deaths on Christmas Day 2024 in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State. About 10 civilians and residents of Gildan Sama and Rumtuwa villages were reported killed when a fighter jet bombed the communities around 7am that day.

The report said in April 2024 “at least 40 innocent people were killed” in Kukawa village, Maradun Local Government Area, Zamfara State “during a mistargeted airstrike by the Nigerian military.” The military had said the attack was based on “credible intelligence from multiple reliable sources.”

The report also listed a military airstrike in September 2024 that killed “at least 23 residents of Jika da Kolo village of Yadin Kidandan in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State,” including farmers and children who had gathered around a mosque and a marketplace on that day. The military had claimed that the airstrike “only rained on the logistics base of terrorists.”

In the latest case in Sokoto State, Nigerian military authorities said the targets were Lakurawa terrorists operating in the area. The military explained that the operation was based on credible intelligence, adding that the area was a hideout for the terrorists, who were infiltrating the country’s northwest region from neighbouring Niger and Mali. Defence Headquarters spokesperson Maj. Gen. Edward Buba said in a statement: “The air strike on the terrorist arms cache and logistics dump led to other secondary explosions causing hoarded munitions to explode in different directions that resulted in 10 deaths.”

This was not only a defence of the military attack but also a subtle suggestion that the villagers had accommodated the insurgents. Indeed, he said efforts were ongoing to determine whether there was collaboration between them. He also said “troops will continue to take painstaking measures to avoid civilian casualties.” Evidently, the loss of innocent lives showed that the claimed precautionary measures were of no effect in this instance.

The chairman of Silame local government, Abubakar Daftarana, was reported saying the villagers “were sitting peacefully when the bombs started dropping on the communities. They were innocent and peace-loving people who had no criminal record.” He did not confirm the number of people killed or injured.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who made a public apology on behalf of the Federal Government, said in a statement that the administration was “sorry and dismayed at the civilian casualties incurred.” Also, the Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu, called for “a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to this tragedy,” adding that he would “engage with the relevant authorities to prevent such occurrences in the future.” He directed a donation of N20m and 100 bags of assorted food items to the families of the deceased “to alleviate their suffering and cover the medical bills of those hospitalised due to their injuries from the bombardment.”

The Sokoto incident further underscored the need for a review of air attacks in the counter-insurgency effort. Amnesty International’s country director Isa Sanusi observed that the military “have to review their procedures, they have to investigate these incidents thoroughly, and they have to find a way to end this reckless deadly use of force.”

The military’s regular response that there were innocent casualties because the targeted insurgents had mixed with the resident population does not justify the loss of innocent lives. The military ought to have learned some operational lessons from previous airstrikes that killed innocent civilians. Notably, a report said accidental airstrikes by the Nigerian military resulted in the deaths of no fewer than 528 civilians between 2017 and December 2024. This is unacceptable.